Help needed with cold case

[Inthedetails]

I'm wondering if it was being used as a signature, whether it bears any similarity to the person's actual name or not.

Snipped

If a name, perhaps something like,

I, Dee Low
I, D. Low
I.D. Low

Or...I don't know!

 

[SluethinAway]

From my searching I have found that Dai Lo, which is cantonese, is pronounced 'Dye-Low"

"Dai lo" (
大佬大 佬
) is a Cantonese term that can mean "big brother" or "big boss". It's used as a term of endearment to show respect and love to an elder.





Explanation

• "Dai lo" can be used as a term of endearment to show respect and love to an elder.
• It can also be used to imply a connection to future generations.
• "Dai lo" can also be used to mean "big boss" or "bad-".

 

[SluethinAway]

Kopi di-lo is a strong, undiluted coffee drink from Singapore. The term "di-lo" comes from the Hokkien word for "straight down".

 

[rob525]

When I read the first part I am reminded of an old Andy Griffith episode where Barny is intent on keeping a secret and says "tick a lock" ( I believe that is the term he used). And signifies the keeping of the secret with a motion of locking his lips together. Perhaps this line means to open the lock or tell secrets. Saying that revealing secrets is fun to do and as another poster says I-Di-Lo could mean "I say it". It could all fit together.
Having no details makes it tough and not knowing in what context the letter was written adds to it. Is the letter writer pointing toward someone else as the culprit, and saying that there is a secret that is being kept quiet? I wonder if /when the letters stopped? Obviously the crime has not been solved so when was the last letter received?

 

[concernedcitizen706]

Pop the Lock was a dance created in the 60's on the West Coast. I-Di-Lo used to be slang for I Love It

Ah hah, yes. That's what I thought it was. So you know for sure that, i di lo' was, I love it, in the past? I mean it makes sense to me, if you say it, and you're saying it like a child would say it. This child and suspect must have been involved in the original pop and lock dance creation. Which suggests to me they are black and they are living in a large city like either New York City or Los Angeles. And the suspect was teaching the child how to pop and lock, and it was something they liked to do together. Which suggests me the suspect was also pretty young, to know those new dances. Probably male, because males were involved in those dance trends more. So I'm thinking the suspect was a young father or uncle. Maybe a young stepfather. I'm thinking if he wrote the kid a lot, he was probably the father. Or a father figure at least.

 

[dotr]

Pop the lock- a locket? Maybe there is one with a photo or wisp of hair within and bearing the initials I-Di-Lo?

locked locket 1960s - Google Search

Reminded also of 'unlocking' a Jack in the Box toy. fwiw..

Jack-in-the-box Facts for Kids

Learn Jack-in-the-box facts for kids

kids.kiddle.co

''A jack-in-the-box is a children's toy that outwardly consists of a box with a crank. When the crank is turned, it plays a melody, often "Pop Goes the Weasel". At the end of the tune there is a "surprise": the lid pops open and a figure, usually a clown or jester, pops out of the box. Some jack-in-the-boxes open at random times when cranked, making the startle even more effective.''

Jack in the box toy: Understanding origin & significance

Looking for a toy that can aid your child’s early development and hold significant historical value? Look no further than the Jack in the Box toy!

kiddale123.com

In addition, the jack in the box toy has found its way into many myths and folklore. The toy has been used to depict many evil or mischievous characters in mythology, which includes the name of the toy as well as the mechanism.''

 

[IMWizzy]

Ah hah, yes. That's what I thought it was. So you know for sure that, i di lo' was, I love it, in the past? I mean it makes sense to me, if you say it, and you're saying it like a child would say it. This child and suspect must have been involved in the original pop and lock dance creation. Which suggests to me they are black and they are living in a large city like either New York City or Los Angeles. And the suspect was teaching the child how to pop and lock, and it was something they liked to do together. Which suggests me the suspect was also pretty young, to know those new dances. Probably male, because males were involved in those dance trends more. So I'm thinking the suspect was a young father or uncle. Maybe a young stepfather. I'm thinking if he wrote the kid a lot, he was probably the father. Or a father figure at least.

I'm not sure if it was a regional slang or what. I just remember it

 

[SluethinAway]

Pop the lock- a locket? Maybe there is one with a photo or wisp of hair within and bearing the initials I-Di-Lo?

locked locket 1960s - Google Search

View attachment 547399
Reminded also of 'unlocking' a Jack in the Box toy. fwiw..

Jack-in-the-box Facts for Kids

Learn Jack-in-the-box facts for kids

kids.kiddle.co

''A jack-in-the-box is a children's toy that outwardly consists of a box with a crank. When the crank is turned, it plays a melody, often "Pop Goes the Weasel". At the end of the tune there is a "surprise": the lid pops open and a figure, usually a clown or jester, pops out of the box. Some jack-in-the-boxes open at random times when cranked, making the startle even more effective.''

Jack in the box toy: Understanding origin & significance

Looking for a toy that can aid your child’s early development and hold significant historical value? Look no further than the Jack in the Box toy!

kiddale123.com

In addition, the jack in the box toy has found its way into many myths and folklore. The toy has been used to depict many evil or mischievous characters in mythology, which includes the name of the toy as well as the mechanism.''

I saw the Lucky Lockets as well and even watched a few old commercials to see if I heard the phrase but did not. Still makes me wonder...

 

[Auntie Cipation]

OK, coming at this from a slightly different perspective:

Let's say that "Pop the lock / It's fun to do / I-Di-Lo" was a recognizable phrase -- say, a tv jingle or a song lyric.

What then? It's still far from clear why someone would use that as a signature in a letter relating (presumably) to a crime against a child. What do folks think are the most likely interpretations?

Is it purely a signature phrase, not meaning anything on its own but meant to identify multiple letters as coming from the same person?

Is it meant to be a clue to who the writer is? A clue to why they committed their crime(s)? A clue as to where they were located or where their victim was hidden?

I wish the OP would return so we could ask for a bit more detail. One thing I'd like to know is more specifically when these letters were sent, and whether there is more than one crime being potentially connected to this suspect.

It puts me in mind of serial killers such as Zodiac, who left such cryptic clues. Were these letters sent during the time Zodiac was in the news, maybe trying to mimic Zodiac? Which other serial killers or well-known criminals were in the news at the time of these letters? Maybe that information would give some idea as to how the writer wanted to be perceived by his writing. MOO

EDIT: after reviewing the OP's post I see these letters were written to a family member, so presumably the writer's identity was not a mystery. But there are still many interpretations of what that phrase might refer to.

 

[FansBlowing]

If these words are handwritten at the bottom of each correspondence, then it is a signature. Pop could mean Dad. Pop the Lock could be a nickname for himself or what others called him. Maybe he was a locksmith or was good at breaking locks to steal cars or breaking into homes. Pop the Lock sounds like a good mafia name.

 

[FansBlowing]

1960s Barbie commercial song. Mix and Match, it's fun to do.

 

[concernedcitizen706]

1960s Barbie commercial song. Mix and Match, it's fun to do.

Yes I vaguely remember the phrase 'it's fun to do' being more of a thing in the old days. I think people were making fun of commercials and such with that phrase.

 

[Kell1]

Hello Everyone,

I am new here and have worked as a detective for 5 years and have been working a cold case for a few years that I cannot release the details on yet, but can say it is in reference to the death of a child. In some letters that were written from the suspect to a family member, there was a phrase written after every letter that said, "Pop the Lock, It's fun to do, I-Di-Lo". I have no idea where that comes from and have searched and am at my wits end about it. These letters were written in the 1960-1970s. If anyone can figure out where this is from or what it means, I'd greatly appreciate the help. I am trying to make sure this is not evidence or a clue of some sort that I need for my case.

God Bless and Thanks for the help.

Cold Case Detective Sergeant

There's not always a meaning , or it could have several meanings depending on the context sometimes they add things to communiques just to throw off LE , or its a deeper meaning to the offender that you may never uncover.

 

[Aurora90]

1960s Barbie commercial song. Mix and Match, it's fun to do.

I agree, that is why earlier I posted it in this thread, not sure if you caught that. I also suggested that it was a signature of sorts. (All Speculation of course) What if we broke this down into two parts? Generic and personal?

By that I mean, he could have consistently heard the barbie commercial on Television hence Mix N' Match It's Fun To Do, and I would not be surprised of the Pop N Lock" ends up being specific to the perpetrator. ie, the perp attended a dance class or learned saw pop n' lock in a book/illustration, etc? or it was just common vernacular at that time in certain circles he was a part of?

I get the impression he was trying out a catchphrase that is generic and two catchphrases combined, but ended up dating himself because the last part isn't used anymore. Unfortunately, It doesn't help narrow down the search for the perp though. A signature that is the combination of: a common dance move + national barbie campaign doesn't really help identify him does it?

I wonder if the perp combined these two commonly used phrases (at the time) for that exact purpose.

 

[Aurora90]

After some more digging, I have some alternate avenues that I wanted to suggest.

@investigatorcoldcase stated that the letters were sent around the 1960s-1970s and that the phrase "Pop the Lock, It's fun to do, I-Di-Lo" was at the end of every letter. To me, that sounds like a signature of sorts. Which now has me deviating away from the pop-n-lock/dance line of thinking. Perhaps we should be looking elsewhere?

I wonder if the suspect was in some part, referencing the jingle from the 1963 Mix-N-Match Barbie Commercial.
"Mix-N-Match it's fun to do, what Barbie wears is up to you". I managed to find a YouTube video.

I hope once the case is solved, OP can come back and update us

@Aurora90

I agree, that is why earlier I posted it in this thread, not sure if you caught that. I also suggested that it was a signature of sorts. (All Speculation of course) What if we broke this down into two parts? Generic and personal?

By that I mean, he could have consistently heard the barbie commercial on Television hence Mix N' Match, and I would not be surprised of the Pop N Lock" ends up being specific to the perpetrator. ie, the perp attended a dance class or learned saw pop n' lock in a book/illustration, etc? or it was just common vernacular at that time in certain circles he was a part of?

I get the impression he was trying out a catchphrase that is generic and two catchphrases combined, but ended up dating himself because the last part isn't used anymore. Unfortunately, It doesn't help narrow down the search for the perp though. A signature that is the combination of: a common dance move + national barbie campaign doesn't really help identify him does it?

I wonder if the perp combined these two commonly used phrases (at the time) for that exact purpose.

I only ask because the combination of the two while simple sounding enough at first, is also hard to find in its totality.

 

[FansBlowing]

 

[FansBlowing]

"Pop the Lock, It's fun to do, I-Di-Lo"

If Pop the Lock" and "It's fun to do" are just fun phrases, then the signature part would be I-Di-Lo.

 

[Gemmie]

I think there has been a lot of very good conversation around the OP's question to us. What I wish is that they would return to see what the WS community has come up with. They last logged in 2 days after their original post (11/19), which really doesn't help them much if they don't return to see what we came up with for them. I would like to think our work wasn't for naught and that hopefully what we've come up with can help them with their cold case. Is that just wishful thinking on my part? lol

 

[FansBlowing]

This guy is deceased, but one of his aliases was I D Lo. Lo is a common asian last name.

 

[FansBlowing]

Here is his obituary page: David N. Scanlon Obituary 2024 - Arkansas Cremation

Someone commented: "David called, sent cards, books, attended baseball games, etc. Those were things I could count on. Those of us that knew him well could count on those funny calls and will miss him dearly. David Scanlon you will be greatly missed."

So he regularly sent cards. Someone might still have one of them and could compare signatures.